The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Law Enforcement Naloxone Toolkit was launched in October 2014 at the urging of former United States Attorney General Eric Holder. It provides law enforcement with the knowledge and the tools to reverse opioid overdoses in the field, which can reduce the time between when an overdose victim is discovered, and when they receive lifesaving assistance.
BJA NTTAC recently made updates to the Naloxone Toolkit, including adding new frequently asked questions (FAQs), updating existing FAQs with the latest information, and adding new resources from the states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
For example, one new question you will now see on the toolkit is “What are communities doing in response to the heroin epidemic?” In communities across the country, multi-disciplinary groups that include law enforcement and public health officials have come together to develop strategic plans to address opioid abuse. A link to sample plans – as well as other resource documents, research reports, and a training video – can be found on the toolkit under the Collaboration tab.
Communities and police departments have a vital role to play in stopping the surge in overdose fatalities, and can use the Naloxone Toolkit to create their own naloxone program. Click here to check out the updated toolkit today.